Ashoke Kumar Sen
Encyclopedia
Ashoke Kumar Sen (10 October 1913 – 31 August 1996) was an Indian barrister, a former Cabinet minister of India, and an Indian parliamentarian.
He also holds the record for winning a Lok Sabha
seat the most times and also the record for being not only an MP
for the most years, but also a cabinet minister - serving more than 7 prime ministers. For decades he was the inevitable Union Law Minister.
ICS (b. 1899), who went on to become India, Sudan
and Nepal
's first Chief Election Commissioner
, funded his education in England, at the London school of Economics
. Ashoke Sen went on to study for the Bar at Gray's Inn
.
Upon his return, he started teaching law at the City College, Kolkata
a constituent college of the University of Calcutta
He then began practicing in the Calcutta High Court
. At the age of 26, he had already written a book about Commercial Law
, which was endorsed by Mr. Sen's then senior Sudhi Ranjan Das
, the future Chief Justice of India
.
Some years later, in February 1943, Ashoke Kumar Sen married Anjana Das, his senior's only daughter. They had two sons and two daughters.
Sen was a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association several times.
, Chief Minister
of West Bengal
, recommended him to the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru wanted Sen in his cabinet, and asked him to contest elections for the Lok Sabha.
In 1957, the Calcutta North West seat for the Lok Sabha was a communist stronghold. Sen has tried in 1956 to win the election, but fell short by only a few votes. However in the following year, he triumphed and won by over 100,000 votes. He retained that seat from 1957 to 1977, and again held the Calcutta North West seat from 1980 to 1989, being defeated in 1989 by Debi Prosad Pal.
Sen was a Member of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Lok Sabhas.
He was later made a Rajya Sabha member and remained in the Upper House until April 1996, a few months before his death.
under Nehru. It is this post for which he became famous worldwide. He was Union Minister of Law, but he also held other portfolios such as Communications, Steel, and Mines.
Over the next years, Sen was India's representative to foreign countries and the United Nations. According to Deve Gowda (1996), Sen led the Indian delegations to the United Nations Conference on Law, the United Nations Conference on Human Rights and several other conferences.
He was Law Minister lastly under Rajiv Gandhi
and resigned in 1989 after his party's debacle in state elections in his home state West Bengal.
.
During his lifetime, Mr Sen also amassed a large law library with many rare collections. This library is considered to be among the largest private law libraries in the world.
named after him. A portrait of him also hangs there.
Several documentary films have also been produced on Mr Asoke Sen
Besides his brother Sukumar Sen (Chief Election Commissioner, India)
, Ashoke Kumar Sen had another brother Amiya Kumar Sen, an associate of Rabindranath Tagore
. Amiya, author of a book about the Tagore family newspaper, was formerly a lecturer at Calcutta University and Principal of the City College, Kolkata.
Mr Sen is also uncle to Nobel Laureate Amartya Kumar Sen
Ramachandra Guha
. * " The biggest gamble in history" The Hindu 27 January 2002, magazine section. Later reprinted as "Democracys biggest gamble: Indias first free elections in 1952. (Reconsiderations)." (partly available online) World Policy Journal 22 March 2002.
He also holds the record for winning a Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
seat the most times and also the record for being not only an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the most years, but also a cabinet minister - serving more than 7 prime ministers. For decades he was the inevitable Union Law Minister.
Background
Ashoke Kumar Sen was born in 1913. His father was a district magistrate. His elder brother, Sukumar SenSukumar Sen (Chief Election Commissioner, India)
Sukumar Sen was an Indian civil servant who was Chief Election Commissioner of India from 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958. He also served as first Chief Election Commissioner in Nepal and Sudan....
ICS (b. 1899), who went on to become India, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
's first Chief Election Commissioner
Chief Election Commissioner of India
The Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission of India, a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections to the national and state legislatures...
, funded his education in England, at the London school of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Ashoke Sen went on to study for the Bar at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
Upon his return, he started teaching law at the City College, Kolkata
City College, Kolkata
City College is a constituent undergraduate college of the University of Calcutta. Established in 1881, it is one of the heritage institutions of Calcutta which played a prominent social role in the wake of the Bengal Renaissance of the nineteenth century. The college is located at 102/1, Raja...
a constituent college of the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
He then began practicing in the Calcutta High Court
Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It was established as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William on 1 July 1862 under the High Courts Act, 1861. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The High Court...
. At the age of 26, he had already written a book about Commercial Law
Commercial law
Commercial law is the body of law that governs business and commercial transactions...
, which was endorsed by Mr. Sen's then senior Sudhi Ranjan Das
Sudhi Ranjan Das
Sudhi Ranjan Das was the Chief Justice of India from 1955 to 1955 and then again 1 December 1955 to 31 January 1959. He retired from the Supreme Court 30 September 1959.-Background and education:...
, the future Chief Justice of India
Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India. As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also head its administrative functions....
.
Some years later, in February 1943, Ashoke Kumar Sen married Anjana Das, his senior's only daughter. They had two sons and two daughters.
Legal career
Within five years of practice, Sen became regarded as one of the top lawyers in the Calcutta High Court and gained wide acclaim. He published many books and articles, and was the Editor of Calcutta Law Journal.Sen was a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association several times.
Parliamentary career
Because of his legal acumen, Bidhan Chandra RoyBidhan Chandra Roy
Bidhan Chandra Roy, M.R.C.P., F.R.C.S. was the second Chief Minister of West Bengal in India. He remained in his post for 14 years as a Indian National Congress candidate, from 1948 until his death in 1962. He was a highly respected physician and a renowned freedom fighter...
, Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, recommended him to the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru wanted Sen in his cabinet, and asked him to contest elections for the Lok Sabha.
In 1957, the Calcutta North West seat for the Lok Sabha was a communist stronghold. Sen has tried in 1956 to win the election, but fell short by only a few votes. However in the following year, he triumphed and won by over 100,000 votes. He retained that seat from 1957 to 1977, and again held the Calcutta North West seat from 1980 to 1989, being defeated in 1989 by Debi Prosad Pal.
Sen was a Member of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Lok Sabhas.
He was later made a Rajya Sabha member and remained in the Upper House until April 1996, a few months before his death.
Ministerial career
Ashoke Sen became the Union Law MinisterMinistry of Law and Justice (India)
The Ministry of Law and Justice is a prominent Ministry of Government of India. Under the , the Ministry is vested with the responsibility of administration of legal affairs, justice, and legislative affairs in India....
under Nehru. It is this post for which he became famous worldwide. He was Union Minister of Law, but he also held other portfolios such as Communications, Steel, and Mines.
Over the next years, Sen was India's representative to foreign countries and the United Nations. According to Deve Gowda (1996), Sen led the Indian delegations to the United Nations Conference on Law, the United Nations Conference on Human Rights and several other conferences.
He was Law Minister lastly under Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
and resigned in 1989 after his party's debacle in state elections in his home state West Bengal.
Other activities
During his lifetime, Sen started the Paschim Banga Seva Samiti - a charitable organisation. He also served as the president of the Indian Football AssociationIndian Football Association
The Indian Football Association , [abbreviated as IFA] is the organization that administers association football in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the oldest Football Association in India and was founded in 1893. Amongst the founders was former England international Elphinstone Jackson....
.
During his lifetime, Mr Sen also amassed a large law library with many rare collections. This library is considered to be among the largest private law libraries in the world.
Memorials
There is a block in the Supreme CourtSupreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
named after him. A portrait of him also hangs there.
Several documentary films have also been produced on Mr Asoke Sen
Family
Ashoke Kumar Sen was survived by his widow, Anjana (whom he married in 1943), and by his four children. Sen is also survived by seven grandchildren, of which one is currently studying Economics at Trinity College, CambridgeBesides his brother Sukumar Sen (Chief Election Commissioner, India)
Sukumar Sen (Chief Election Commissioner, India)
Sukumar Sen was an Indian civil servant who was Chief Election Commissioner of India from 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958. He also served as first Chief Election Commissioner in Nepal and Sudan....
, Ashoke Kumar Sen had another brother Amiya Kumar Sen, an associate of Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
. Amiya, author of a book about the Tagore family newspaper, was formerly a lecturer at Calcutta University and Principal of the City College, Kolkata.
Mr Sen is also uncle to Nobel Laureate Amartya Kumar Sen
Sources
Ramachandra Guha
Ramachandra Guha
Ramachandra Guha is an Indian writer whose research interests have included environmental, social, political and cricket history. He is also a columnist for the newspapers The Telegraph , and The Hindustan Times.-Early life and education:Born in Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India in 1958, Guha studied...
. * " The biggest gamble in history" The Hindu 27 January 2002, magazine section. Later reprinted as "Democracys biggest gamble: Indias first free elections in 1952. (Reconsiderations)." (partly available online) World Policy Journal 22 March 2002.